Paper cutting and folding machine.



PATENTED JUNE 23, 1903.

, S.D.RUTH. PAPER CUTTING AND FOLDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED OUT.1. 1902.

N0 MODEL,

% w w w w w PATENTED JUNE 23, 1903.

s. 11.3mm. PAPER CUTTING AND'FOLDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED OUT-1, 1902.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2\ H0 MODEL,

v SR

1m: Norms PEYENS co PHOYUUYHO. WASHYNGYON. o c.

UNITED STATES Patented June 23, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

PAPERCUTTING AND FOLDING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letterslatent N0. 731,624, dated June 23, 1903.

' Application filed October 1, 1902. Serial No- 125,551. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

lie it known that I, SAMUEL D. RUTH, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Bea-- trice, in the county of Gage and State of Nebraska, have invented a new and useful Paper Cutting and Folding Machine, of which the following is a specification.

The object of the present invention is to provide a machine or apparatus 'for slitting and folding sheets of paper, envelope, and

the like for the purpose of forming a fastening or securing device to hold a number of sheets of paper together or to form a closure for an envelop.

Afurther object of the invention is to construct a device of this characteriu which the operations of slitting, folding, and interlocking the folded portion may be carried on in sequence with a single movement of an operating jaw or 1ever.-

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in the novel construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter de scribed, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the vation of a portion or the folding and cutting mechanisms'on the 111193 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4t is a detail perspective view of the folding devices detached from the machine. Fig. 5 is a similar view of a pair of knives which are employed for cutting the interlocking incisions. Fig. 6 is alongitudinal sectional 91s;

vation if the machine, illustrating a modifiedconstru ation. Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional elevation of the same on the line 7 7 of Fig. 6. Figs. 8, 9, and 10 are detail perspective views illustrating the various stepsin the cutting and folding of the paper.

"a hook carried by the lever.

Similarnumerals of reference are employed to indicate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

The apparatus forming the subject of the present invention is designed more especially as an improvement on the device illustrated and described in an application for United States Letters Patent filed by me on July 17, 1902, under Serial No- 116,010.

Referring to the drawings, 10 indicates a suitable bed-plate, in the upper surface of which are formed a pair of parallel slots 11 to receive and guide a pair of stop-pins 12, said pins being connected by rods 13 to a cross-bar 14 at the front end of the base. The central portion of the cross-bar 14 is provided with a screw 15, having an operatingknob 16, said screw extending into a threaded opening in the end of the base to permit the adjustment of the pins either toward or .from the front end of said base. -Arranged cent-rally of the base is a slightly-elevated plate 17, disposed midway between the two stop-pins 12 and having at its front end a pair of convergent cutting edges 18, arranged at angles at which it may be desired to form the. incisions in the paper or envelop. Near the rear portion of each of the cutting edges 18 is pivoted a cutting-knife 19, which is connected by a link 20 to one side of an operatinglever 21, the latter being pivoted at the rear end of the base-plate and provided with a suitable handle 22. This operating-lever is normally held in the elevated position illustrated in Fig. 1 by tension-springs 23, extending between a fixed eye on the base and The central portion of the plate 17 is recessed or grooved for its entire length and serves to receive and guide a folding-strip 25, movable longitudinally of the plate 17 and serving to engage and bend the paper tongue from the position illustrated in Fig. 8 to that shown inFig. 9.

The folding strip is less in thickness than the plate 17 in order that it may the better engage and move the paper tongue beyond the cutters, and said strip is provided with slots 26, through which extend guiding-pins 27, carried by the base and serving to prevent excessive upward movement of the strip during the folding operation, said pins being of operating-lever is astandard 30, carried by the base and serving as a support for the central pivot-pin 31 of a bell-crank lever 32, the vertical arm of which is fitted in a recess in the rear end of the folding-strip and the hori zontal arm being adapted for operative contact with a block 33 on the under side of the operating-lever. This block is yielding, being formed of rubber or provided with a yielding cushion which will permit a downward movement of the operating-lever after the folding-strip has completed its work.

Projecting from the opposite sides of the lever 21 are lugs 35, carrying compressionsprings 36, the latter being provided at their lower ends with plates 37, adapted for con tact with the paper or envelop after the insertion of the latter between the bed-plate and lever and in advance of the cutting operation of the knives 19, the springs being of sufficient length to permit free downward movement of the operating-lever to accomplish the several operations.

The base is recessed for the reception of a block 39, which may be adjusted toward and from the cutting-knives 19 by means of the screw 40, extending through a threaded opening in the base. This block carries two angular knives 41, which are preferably parallel with each other and are adapted to form incisions or slits 42 in the sheet of paper for the reception of the inclined sides of the tongue out by the knives l9, and to facilitate the entrance of the sides of the tongue into said incisions each of the knives is recessed, as indicated at 43. At points between the outer sides of the knives and the adjacent edges of the block the surface of the block is slightly raised, as indicated at 44, and the holding-plates 37 are arranged in alinement with these elevated portions and are adapted to force the paper or envelop down against the block and assist in the formation of the incisions 42 in the paper.

At a point between the two compressionsprings 36 the operating-lever is provided with a depending block 49, adapted for contact with the paper tongue after the preliminary-folding strip 25 has completed its work.

On each side of the block 49 are two or more guiding-pins or screws 50, forming guides for a slotted folding-plate 51, each plate being normally depressed by a small spring 52 and being adapted to come into contact with the side portions of the paper tongue immediately after the latter is partly bent over by the folding-strip 25, and the lower edge of each plate is recessed, as indicated at 53, to permit the passage of the sides of the tongue through the incisions 42. On the front of the block ismounted a verticallymovable bar 54, normally depressed by a spring 55 and serving as aguide for an inclined finger or lug 56, carried by a spring 57 on the rear face of the bar 54.

The operation of the device is as follows: After adjusting the pins 12 to the desired position the folded paper or the envelop is inserted under the spring-plates 37 until the edge of the paper rests against the stop-pins, said stop-pins determining the length of the inclined slits or incisions formed in the paper. The operating-lever is then depressed, and the spring-pressed plates 37 come into contact with the paper on theouter sides of the knives 41, and at the same time the lower end of the bar 54 and the lower face of the inclined tongue or finger 56 come into contact with the paper at a point between the two knives 41. These devices, together with the knives, form cutting-dies, the knives being forced through the paper, while the central portion of the paper between the two.

As the downward movement of.

tongue remains on the slightly-elevated plate.

in convenient position to be engaged by the subsequent movement of the folding-strip. The downward movement of the levers continuing, block 33 engages the horizontal arm and bell-crank lever 32 and effects a forward movementof the folding-strip, the wedgelike paper tongue being forced over to a position above the finger or lug 56 and immediately under the block 49, which has not yet reached operative position. As the paper tongue is resting on the finger or lug 56 the folding-plates 51 engage the side portions of the tongue and fold the latter downwardly, the tongue being slightly bent or buckled over the finger 56 and assuming the shape shown inFig. 9. Further downward movement of the lever then brings the lower end of the block 49 into engagement with the central portion of the paper tongue and forces the same downward and owing to the inclination of the upper face of the finger 56 forces the latter through the guided slot of the bar 54. The sides of the tongue then pass through the recesses 53 of the plates 51 and enter the V recessed portions 42 of the knives 41, the entire operation being completed when the block 49 has firmly pressed the paper against that portion of the block 39 between the two knives 41. The lever is then allowed to releaving the wedge-like tongue firmly interlocked inthe in Fig. 10.

In some cases it may be desired to employ a larger or more powerful machine for cutting throughthicker paper or a large number of sheets or layers of paper, and for this purpose I may employ a device such as illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7. In this case the structure and operation are practically the same parallel incisions, as illustrated as that previously described, but the various movable members are actuated in sequence by a plurality of cams carried by a sliding tion of the main supportingrframe.

, Onthe front face of the bar 49' frame or plate. The block 49 is provided with an upper stem 60, which is guided in a suitable opening formed in the upper portion ofa frame 61, the block being maintained in elevated position by a tension-spring 62 and provided at its upper end with an antifriction-roller 63, which is held against a cam 64, carried by a plate or frame 65, which .is'adapted to guideways on the upper por- The block carries the side plates 51, corresponding in construction and operation to the side plates 51. (Shown in Figs. 3 and 4.) is guided a bar 54:,having at its lower end a finger 56 to be forced backward on the descent of the block 49 in the manner previously described.

The two presser-plates 37 are operatively connected through the springs 36 to brackets. 69, carried by cutting-knives 70, adapted to cooperate with the knives 41 in the formation of the parallel slots or incisions,and the knives 70 are both connected to a vertically-guided bar 71, having at itsupper end an antifric- .tion-roller 72, adapted to engage a cam 73,

carried by the sliding frame 65.

The main cutting-knives for the formation of the wedge shaped tongue are operatively connected to a vertically-movable bar 74:, having at its upper end an antifriction-roller 75, adapted for engagement with a cam bar 76, carried by the frame 65, and in similar manner the bellcrank lever of the folding tongue is connected to a vertically-movable rod 77, carrying at its upper end an antifriction-roller 78, adapted to engage a cam-bar 79. The frame 65 is provided with rack 80, 'intermeshing with a gearsegment 81, carried by a transversely-disposed shaft 82, having an operating-handle 83, and normally the frame is maintained-in initial position by a suitable tension-spring 84.

In the operation of the mechanism shown in Figs. 6 and 7 the paper to be secured together is introduced below the movable cutting-knives and the gear-segment is partly rotated by means of the crank operating-handle 83. The firstefiect of the forward movement will be to cause the depression of the two springholding-plates 37' into contact withthe paper, the cam 73 efiecting this movement. The cam 76 will then depress the, rod 74: and move the pivoted cutting knives to operative position for the formationof-the tongue in the paper. The antiacts on the antifriction-roller 63 friction-roller 72 is then again depressed throughthe action of the cam'7 3, and the cutting-knives 70 act to form the parallel slits or incisions and immediately thereafter are allowed to return to normal position, while the plates 37 are still held in contact with the paper. After this movement the cam 64 to depress the block 49 until the finger 56 comes into contact with the paper. Immediately after this movement the cam 79 depresses the antifriction-roller 78 and forces the tongue-folding slide forward until the wedge shaped tongue of paper rests on top of the finger 56'. Continued movement of the frame 65 next brings the cam 64 into position to again depress the roller 63 and block 49, the foldingrear. When released, the parts are returned to normal position by one or more tensionsprings 84.

The device forms a simple and convenient means of securing paper and envelops without the expense of eyelets, paper-fasteners, or similar securing devices and is of especial value for fastening sample-envelops or circulars insuch manner as to protect the contents of the envelop and at the same time permit the ready opening of the same for inspection by the postal authorities, as required in some classes of mail.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In combination, means for cuttingpaper to form a tongue and to form a pair of tonguereceiving incisions, and means for folding said tongue and forcing the opposite sides thereof through said incisions.

2. In combination, means for cutting paper to form a tongue and for forming tongue-re ceiving incisions,means for folding the tongue,

and a movable operating device adapted to successively operate the cutting and folding means and to force the tongue through said incisions.

3. In combination, cutting-knives for forming a tongue, knives for forming tongue-receiving incisions, means for folding the tongue and forcing the same through the incisions, and an operating-lever for effecting the cutting of the paper, and the folding and interlocking of the tongue by a single movement.

4. In a device of the class specified, a baseplate having knives adaptedto form incisions in the paper, means for cutting a tongue in said paper, an operating-lever, a block depending from the lever, an inclined finger or lug supported by the block and adapted to be moved to inoperative positionby said block, means for folding the paper tongue to a position under the block, and yieldable folding plates carried by said block and adapted to engage side portions of the tongue and fold the latter over said inclined fingers.

5. In'a device of the class described means for cutting paper to form a tongue, a pair of inclined knives having lower recessed portions, a block carrying said knives, that portion of the block between the knives being arranged in a horizontal plane below that portion of the block outside the knives,a lever, spring-pressed plates adapted to engage the paper and force the same into, contact With the elevated portions of the block, a block depending from the lever, a vertically-yieldable bar and a pair of folding-plates carried by said depending block, a yielding finger or lug carried by said bar and adapted to engage with the central portion of the paper tongue, means for folding the paper tongue into contact with said finger.

6. In a device of the class described, cutting-knives for forming a tongue in a paper sheet or envelop, auxiliary knives for form ing tongue-receiving incisions, means for engaging the central portion of the tongue between said incisions and for bending saidmy own I have hereto affixed my signature in I the presence of two witnesses.

SAMUEL D. RUTH.

' Witnesses:

' H. V. MILLER,

C. W. GREENING. 

